State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Phillip Presha, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the lower courts' decision that the juvenile defendant's confession was voluntary and admissible, emphasizing that courts must consider the totality of circumstances with heightened weight to the absence of a parent, and establishing a bright‑line rule that confessions by juveniles under fourteen are inadmissible absent a parent unless truly unavailable. The Court also required police to make best efforts to locate a parent before interrogation.